HarbourView Acquires Publisher’s Share of Wolf Cousins Catalog

HarbourView Equity Partners announced Wednesday that it has purchased the publisher’s share of a selection of compositions owned by Wolf Cousins, the Stockholm-based songwriting collective founded by Max Martin and Shellback. The acquisition covers hits recorded by artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, Tove Lo and DNCE. Warner Chappell Music will continue to administer the catalog. Legal counsel for HarbourView included Fox Rothschild, DLA Piper and Advokatfirman Hammarskiöld & Co AB.

Variety MagazineHarbourView acquires publisher’s share of select songs from Max Martin and Shellback’s Wolf Cousins collectiveMax Martin and Shellback Sell Catalog with Songs by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to HarbourViewRolling StoneHollywood Reporter

Wolf Cousins was created in the early 2010s to bring together songwriters and producers in a collaborative environment. Its roster includes Ilya Salmanzadeh, Oscar Holter, Ludvig Söderberg, Jakob Jerlström, Oscar Görres, Ali Payami, Robin Fredriksson and Mattias Larsson. The collective’s output spans three decades of pop music, contributing to chart-topping tracks for Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, P!nk and many others.

Max Martin and Shellback Sell Catalog with Songs by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to HarbourView

• Max Martin (Karl Martin Sandberg) – Swedish songwriter-producer with 30 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, five Grammy Awards, and a reputation as a defining figure in modern pop.

Max Martin and Shellback Sell Catalog with Songs by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to HarbourView

• Shellback (Karl Johan Schuster) – Four-time Grammy-winning producer and longtime collaborator of Martin, known for work with P!nk, Taylor Swift and Adele.

HarbourView acquires publisher’s share of select songs from Max Martin and Shellback’s Wolf Cousins collective

• Sherrese Clarke – Founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, an investment firm that has amassed roughly $3.88 billion in regulatory assets and acquired more than 70 music catalogs since its 2021 launch.

Max Martin and Shellback Sell Catalog with Songs by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to HarbourView

• Taylor Swift – “Style,” “…Ready For It?”

Variety Magazine

• Ariana Grande – “Problem,” “Into You,” “No Tears Left To Cry”

Variety Magazine

• The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face”

Variety Magazine

• Imagine Dragons – “Believer”

HarbourView acquires publisher’s share of select songs from Max Martin and Shellback’s Wolf Cousins collective

• Ellie Goulding – “Love Me Like You Do”

Variety Magazine

• Tove Lo – “Habits (Stay High)”

HarbourView acquires publisher’s share of select songs from Max Martin and Shellback’s Wolf Cousins collective

• DNCE – “Cake By The Ocean”

Variety Magazine

Several of these tracks also appear in the Broadway/West End musical & Juliet, providing additional theatrical revenue streams.

Variety Magazine

Variety sources reported a purchase price in the low nine-figure range, but HarbourView declined to confirm the figure and maintains a policy of nondisclosure for deal terms. The lack of an official price creates a discrepancy between reported estimates and the firm’s public statements.

Max Martin and Shellback Sell Catalog with Songs by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to HarbourView

The transaction expands HarbourView’s portfolio of culturally resonant pop assets, reinforcing a broader industry trend of investment firms consolidating publishing rights. By securing songs with proven streaming performance and live-theatre royalties, HarbourView positions itself to generate diversified income across digital, broadcast and stage platforms.

Max Martin and Shellback Sell Catalog with Songs by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to HarbourView

HarbourView’s CEO emphasized the firm’s focus on “culturally relevant intellectual property” and its commitment to stewarding the catalog’s legacy. Martin and Shellback highlighted Wolf Cousins’ founding purpose of fostering collaboration, mentorship and creative development, noting that HarbourView’s long-term vision aligns with those principles.

Rolling Stone

• “At HarbourView, we invest in culturally relevant intellectual property and the visionary creators behind it,” — Sherrese Clarke, Founder & CEO, HarbourView Equity Partners

Hollywood Reporter

• “Max Martin and Shellback continue to hold their place as hitmakers in contemporary music, and through Wolf Cousins they have built an extraordinary creative ecosystem spanning generations and genres. We are proud to partner with them and help steward the legacy of this remarkable catalog.” — Sherrese Clarke, Founder & CEO, HarbourView Equity Partners

Hollywood Reporter

• “ “Wolf Cousins was founded to bring songwriters and producers together in an environment built on collaboration, mentorship and creative development.” — Max Martin and Shellback, Wolf Cousins

HarbourView acquires publisher’s share of select songs from Max Martin and Shellback’s Wolf Cousins collective

• “HarbourView’s long-term vision and respect for creators make them a natural partner for this body of work.” — Max Martin and Shellback, Wolf Cousins

Rolling Stone

HarbourView continues to pursue additional catalog acquisitions, with recent deals involving the Quincy Jones estate, Slipknot and Chaka Khan. The firm’s expanding holdings suggest further consolidation of publishing rights, potentially influencing licensing negotiations and royalty structures for the songs now under its stewardship.

Rolling Stone